Armagh successfully dodged what would have been a head-wrecking fifth straight defeat when they got the better of Queen's University in a crackling Ulster derby at the Palace Grounds.

Coach Willie Faloon's side impressively fought back in the second half to win 30-27 after seemingly being out of touch at 24-6 adrift.

Tries from Evan Cromie and Harry Doyle, along with a penalty try, ensured that Armagh rescued the situation with Cormac Fox's penalty - his third in a game where he also slotted all three conversions - ultimately edging the contest.

The win allowed Armagh move up a place to fifth while Neil Doak's students dropped a spot and now sit one above Armagh.

Meanwhile Malone stayed out in front in 2A thanks to their 55-14 thumping of basement team Greystones at Dr Hickey Park.

Coach Paddy Armstrong's squad scored eight tries as they took maximum points from the trip.

Winger David McMaster scored two tries for the Gibson Park team while the side's other winger Rory Campbell kicked 15 points.

In 2B, second-placed Rainey kept their good form going with a 23-8 victory over Skerries but the most notable result came at the other end of the table where Belfast Harlequins came agonisingly close to managing their first win against unbeaten leaders Old Crescent at Deramore.

In the end, Quins lost 29-27 with the two points coach Nicky Wells's hard-pressed players bagged lifting them off the bottom but only on a better points differential than City of Derry who lost 49-14 at Barnhall.

Elsewhere, in 2B, Dungannon beat Wanderers 17-12 at Stevenson Park.

In 2C, Omagh produced an astonishing comeback at Thomond when they overhauled a 22-8 deficit to triumph 39-32 and take a try bonus for their notable efforts.

The five points moved the Accies into third, leapfrogging Bangor who lost 22-19 at home to Bective.